GeoTagging: I Tagged you, You're It

Geotagging, a product of Location Based Services (LBS), is a form of metadata that adds geographical information to your media such as photos, videos, websites (Facebook), and messages. The information is usually latitude and longitude coordinates, but can also include altitude, bearing, distance, accuracy data, and place names.   

    

     While this metadata has many advantages, it also has many inherent dangers. Many users often simply don't understand the risks of what they're exposing when LBS is enabled. According to ISACA, an It governance group for professionals, 58% of smartphone owners use location-based apps.  43% of those individuals admit that they have never read the user agreements for apps they download and 25% of the people who did read the user agreements admitted that they didn’t understand them.

     Securing new technology is always a major concern and Location Based Services are no exception. The availability of new applications and social media services for the internet and mobile devices (IPhone/IPad, Androids, GPS watches and Shoes) are being created every day.  This has given rise to some new criminal phenomena called CyberCasing & CyberStalking. In California, one convicted predator admitted to using LBS to identify underage victims close to his proximity. A research study conducted by The International Computer Science Institute (ICSI), a nonprofit research organization demonstrated how criminals can cross-reference online information via a script to determine in minutes 106 exact home addresses of potential victims within a 100km radius. They were even able to identify victims who had posted anonymously and specific brand names they wished to steal.

     LBS technologies are available in the telematics of some cars and can help locate missing vehicles, car accident victims, bad weather or road conditions, and other resourceful activities. So, as you can see LBS isn’t all bad if used wisely. Some useful tips are: disable LBS on your cameras & smartphones (several apps exist that can help), think before posting pictures online that may contain geotagged information that can lead to your house or where you are at on vacation, do not “Check-In” at locations on social media, understand what is being shared, educate friends and family, use different routes when running with GPS trackers, and do not reveal your on vacation plans online. Most importantly be aware and be safe.